Method and apparatus for improved GNSS location detection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for improving data quality using GNSS. The method is implemented through middleware for existing GNSS survey systems. The method and device automatically analyze streams of GNSS messages from a GNSS receiver mounted to a GNSS survey pole for preconfigured conditions and also automatically measure an angle or tilt of the GNSS survey pole. The middleware automatically locks onto a location point reading of the GNSS receiver when the GNSS survey pole is positioned in an acceptable vertical position, and any preconfigured conditions within the stream of GNSS messages are met. The middleware automatically repeats the GNSS message of the location point instead of the continuing live stream of data to enable a GIS or other system to collect the location point.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of improving data quality using GNSS, wherein a GNSS receiver receives signals from GNSS satellites and generates GNSS messages, the method comprising:
 automatically analyzing a stream of GNSS messages from the GNSS receiver for a preconfigured condition; 
 automatically locking onto a location point reading of the GNSS receiver when the preconfigured condition is met; 
 automatically filtering GNSS data received via the GNSS receiver as a function of the preconfigured condition; and 
 automatically providing filtered GNSS data to a geographic information system (“GIS system”), wherein the filtering comprises automatically repeating the location point reading as the filtered GNSS data in a GNSS receiver broadcast to enable the GIS system to collect the location point. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preconfigured condition is selected from: an angle or tilt of the GNSS receiver, number of satellites in solution, a distance root mean squared (DRMS) value, a horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP) value, fix quality, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GNSS receiver is mounted to a GNSS survey pole, and further comprising:
 automatically measuring an angle or tilt of the GNSS receiver or GNSS survey pole; and 
 automatically filtering GNSS data received via the GNSS receiver as a function of the measured angle or tilt. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 providing a device including a plumb or level sensor and a control module configured to receive the GNSS data; and 
 automatically forwarding filtered GNSS data corresponding to a predetermined angle or tilt measurement. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically determining an acceptable vertical position of the GNSS receiver; and 
 automatically locking onto a location point reading of the GNSS receiver in the acceptable vertical position. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 automatically repeating a GNSS message of the location point reading to the GIS system to enable collection of the location point, wherein the repeated GNSS message replaces a live stream of GNSS data from the GNSS receiver. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filtering comprises repeating a GNSS message to the GIS system of a single locked location point determined as a function of the preconfigured condition. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a device including a plumb or level sensor and a control module configured to receive the GNSS data; 
 the device automatically determining an acceptable vertical position of the GNSS receiver via the sensor; 
 upon determining the acceptable vertical position, the device automatically caching a segment of the GNSS data corresponding to the acceptable vertical position; and 
 repeating a broadcast of the segment of the GNSS data, wherein the device intercepts and/or blocks a live GNSS stream while repeating the broadcast of the segment of the GNSS data, and/or the repeating of the broadcast occurs regardless of any further position of the GNSS receiver, and until cleared from a memory cache of the device. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of improving data quality using GNSS, wherein a GNSS receiver receives signals from GNSS satellites and generates GNSS messages, the method comprising:
 automatically analyzing a stream of GNSS messages from a GNSS receiver mounted to a GNSS survey pole for preconfigured conditions; 
 automatically locking onto a location point reading of the GNSS receiver when the preconfigured conditions within the stream of GNSS messages are met to provide a locked location point reading; and 
 automatically repeating a broadcast of a GNSS message of the locked location point reading of the GNSS receiver to enable a geographic information system (“GIS system”) to collect the location point. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 automatically measuring an angle or tilt of the GNSS survey pole; 
 automatically locking onto the location point reading of the GNSS receiver when the GNSS survey pole is positioned in an acceptable vertical position and conditions within the stream of GNSS messages are met. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein a repeated GNSS message replaces the stream of GNSS messages from the GNSS receiver to the GIS system. 
     
     
       12. A method of improving data quality using GNSS, the method comprising:
 automatically analyzing a stream of GNSS messages from a GNSS receiver mounted to a GNSS survey pole for preconfigured conditions; 
 automatically locking onto a location point reading of the GNSS receiver when the preconfigured conditions within the stream of GNSS messages are met; 
 automatically providing a GNSS message of the location point to enable a geographic information system (“GIS system”) to collect the location point; and 
 repeating the GNSS message of the location point regardless of any further position of the GNSS receiver until the GNSS message of the location point is cleared by a user. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the steps are performed by a device including a plumb or level sensor and a control module configured to receive and analyze the GNSS messages, and the device is mounted to the GNSS survey pole. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the device automatically caching the GNSS message of the location point; and 
 the device repeating a broadcast of the GNSS message of the location point. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repeating of the broadcast occurs regardless of any further position of the GNSS receiver, until cleared from a memory cache of the device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 intercepting and/or blocking the stream of GNSS messages while providing the broadcast of the GNSS message of the location point. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the device comprises a housing including or connectable to the GNSS receiver having a GNSS antenna, wherein the plumb or level sensor is within the housing, the sensor determines an angle or tilt of the GNSS antenna, the control module is in combination with the sensor, and the control module analyzes and filters the GNSS data from the GNSS receiver as a function of the angle or tilt of the GNSS antenna. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device further comprises a memory cache and a communication module, the method further comprising:
 the control module automatically caching the filtered GNSS data; and 
 the communication module repeating a broadcast of the filtered GNSS data, wherein the repeats of the broadcast occur regardless of any further angle or tilt of the GNSS receiver, and until cleared from the memory cache. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 repeating the location point reading regardless of any further position of the GNSS receiver until the filtered GNSS data is cleared from the GNSS receiver. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the GNSS receiver is mounted to a GNSS survey pole, and further comprising:
 automatically measuring an angle or tilt of the GNSS receiver or the GNSS survey pole, wherein the locking onto the location point reading is a function of the measured angle or tilt.